Police arrest intermediary and methamphetamine supplier in Koko Erwin drug network
Jakarta — Indonesia’s National Police Directorate of Narcotics Crime (Dittipidnarkoba) has arrested an intermediary and methamphetamine supplier operating within the trafficking network of suspected drug baron Erwin Iskandar, alias Koko Erwin.
Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of Narcotics Crime at the National Police Criminal Investigation Directorate (Bareskrim), stated at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday that the methamphetamine supplier arrested was Arfan Yulius Lauw (AYL), whilst the intermediary connecting Erwin to Arfan was Charles Bernando (CB), known as Charlie.
Arfan and Charlie were apprehended on 28 February 2026. Both have criminal records—Charlie for murder and drug trafficking, and Arfan for drug distribution.
According to Eko, the connection between the two and Erwin began in mid-January 2026 when Charlie introduced Erwin to Arfan, who had a contact known as Ko Andre, alias The Doctor.
“Erwin ordered 2 kilograms of methamphetamine from Ko Andre through Arfan,” Eko explained.
During negotiations, Erwin agreed to purchase the 2 kilograms at 400 million rupiah per kilogram. The following day, the shipment was delivered to an apartment in the PIK 2 area, Tangerang, Banten.
Erwin personally transported the methamphetamine to Surabaya, where it was handed to Rudi, one of his subordinates, for distribution in Bima, East Nusa Tenggara. For facilitating this transaction, Arfan received 20 million rupiah from Ko Andre, which he split equally with Charlie, each receiving 10 million rupiah.
A second transaction occurred at the end of January 2026. Erwin again contacted Charlie to order narcotics worth 400 million rupiah. Charlie then contacted Arfan, who approached Ko Andre, resulting in Erwin receiving 3 kilograms of methamphetamine.
On 16 January 2026 at 04:00 local time, Erwin instructed Arfan to accompany Akhsan, alias Genda, one of his trusted associates, to collect the drugs from Pluit. After collection, Erwin and Genda immediately departed for Bima to distribute the narcotics.
Upon arriving at a hotel in Bima around 20:00 local time, Genda delivered 500 grams of methamphetamine to hotel room 415, placing it beneath the television. The drugs were subsequently collected by the former Narcotics Chief of Bima City Police, AKP Malaungi.
Around 23:00 local time, 2 kilograms stored in a black bag in a vehicle were collected by Setiawan, alias Awan, a courier in Erwin’s network. Approximately 30 minutes later, Genda handed over the remaining 500 grams to associates of Abdul Hamid.
For facilitating this transaction, Arfan and Charlie each received 30 million rupiah from the 60 million rupiah commission on the sale.
Police investigators will continue their examination and pursue the arrest of Ko Andre, alias The Doctor, who is listed as a fugitive, as well as other members of the broader trafficking network.